Remembering the Maguindanao Massacre

In two days, we will be commemorating the death of more than 50 people in what we call the “Maguindanao Massacre” that happened in the municipality of Ampatuan, Maguindanao. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) tagged it as the “single deadliest event for journalists since 1992”. A crime that was supposed to have been caused by political rivalry of the then reigning Ampatuanfamily, and its challenger, the now reigning Mangudadatu family.

Image via Wikipedia

As of this writing, suspects coming from the Ampatuan family are in custody of the PNP and are facing trial for murder. The rival, Esmael Mangudadatu, is now the incumbent governor of Maguindanao. Trial is ongoing and there is no definitive time frame as to when the court shall decide. Until then, justice is an aspiration for the families of those who were killed, the Filipino people, and the world.

I remember blogging about the massacre entitled “The Truly Abused”, I have stressed how not only the Mangudadatus have been victimized by this onslaught but the Ampatuans as well. The Ampatuans were ostracized by political allies, condemned in the media. The Ampatuans endorsed the candidacy of then-Senator Noynoy Aquino, to whose mother they owe the service of the Maguindanaoan people, but Noynoy dismissed the endorsement as black propaganda.

Just as I have positioned myself a year ago on this issue, I wish that the Ampatuans have their day in court so that they can have the impartial avenue to prove whatever needs proving. I hope and pray that however this case may end, it will be for the better of all.

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A Student Leader, Public Servant, and Blogger, John Carlo "JC" Masajo has been at the forefront of students' rights issues in college. Now, he's in the real world, and faces it with the same passion to serve.